Experts now believe that it may be best served from a simple white wine glass,
rather than a flute or coupe

Wine connoisseurs have long argued over whether a flute or coupe is better to bring out the taste of champagne.

But experts now believe that it may be best served from a simple white wine glass.

For the best and most complex champagnes, the wine glass emphasises both the fizz and the aroma.

Frederico Lleonart, a global wine ambassador for the drinks company Pernod Ricard, said: “When the sparkling wine or champagne has complexity, depth and autolytic notes, such as the best cavas or champagnes, then the best option is actually to use a white wine glass in order to let the aromas express themselves better.”

He also advised that a simple sparkling wine should still be served in a flute, because it keeps the drink colder for longer and makes the bubbles look nicer.

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Mr Lleonart added: “Both the flute and the saucer help the aromas diffuse in different ways: the flute concentrates carbon dioxide at the top of the glass, whereas the saucer’s wide mouth means the bubbles evaporate more quickly.”

Previous studies have suggested that champagne tastes better in a flute because it provides more of a nose-tingle than a flat coupe.

The University of Reims found that carbon dioxide bubbles get trapped in the mouth of a flute, creating an experience of effervescence. In a coupe, the fizz is lost much more quickly.

The researchers recommended drinking Champagne at around 64F (18C) to maintain the bubbles for longer.

Mr Lleonart has also designed a glass specifically for Malbec wine, which is shaped like a soft-boiled egg with the top cut off. A Rioja is best enjoyed from a glass with a narrower mouth to “give rise to more spice or wood notes”.